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All Blacks

Carter out of Romania game

The All Blacks will start Luke McAlister at first five-eighth against Romania after Dan Carter withdrew with a calf muscle strain.

Wing Doug Howlett moves on to the bench in McAlister's place.

Carter felt tightness in his left calf following Thursday's training and, after consulting the All Blacks medical team on Friday morning, withdrew from the line-up. His availability for the All Blacks quarter-final will be re-assessed early next week.

“Luke is an experienced first-five at test level. This will add to our options at the position while we take a sensible approach to Dan’s calf strain,” said All Blacks coach Graham Henry.

“Our goal through the pool round is to give game time to as many of our 30-man squad as possible. Dan has played two matches already so this has a pretty minor effect on our strategy.”

Henry noted that Nick Evans, the team’s other option at first five-eight, remains at fullback to give Mils Muliaina (hamstring) and Leon MacDonald (bruised thigh) additional time to recover from earlier injuries.